Cholesteric liquid crystal composition

Abstract

A cholesteric liquid crystal composition containing at least one esterified product selected from the group consisting of (1) an esterified product of a hydrolysate of (A) a γ-oryzanol and (B1) a carboxylic acid compound, (2) an esterified product of a hydrogenated product of a hydrolysate of (A) a γ-oryzanol and (B2) a carboxylic acid compound, and (3) an esterified product of a hydrogenated product of (A) a γ-oryzanol and (B3) a carboxylic acid compound. The γ-oryzanol (A) is a mixture containing at least one ferulate ester of a vegetable sterol and at least one ferulate ester of a triterpene alcohol, and the hydrolysate of the γ-oryzanol (A) is a mixture containing at least one vegetable sterol and at least one triterpene alcohol.

1. A cholesteric liquid crystal composition containing at least one esterified product selected from the group consisting of:
 (1) an esterified product of a hydrolysate of (A) a γ-oryzanol and (B1) a carboxylic acid compound, 
 (2) an esterified product of a hydrogenated product of a hydrolysate of (A) a γ-oryzanol and (B2) a carboxylic acid compound, and 
 (3) an esterified product of a hydrogenated product of (A) a γ-oryzanol and (B3) a carboxylic acid compound, 
 
       the γ-oryzanol (A) being a mixture containing at least one ferulate ester of a vegetable sterol and at least one ferulate ester of a triterpene alcohol, and
 the hydrolysate of the γ-oryzanol (A) being a mixture containing at least one vegetable sterol and at least one triterpene alcohol. 
 
     
     
       2. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the carboxylic acid compound (B1) and the carboxylic acid compound (B2) are each independently a linear or branched and saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms, a carboxylic acid compound represented by the following formula (b1) or a carboxylic acid compound represented by the following formula (b2), and 
 the carboxylic acid compound (B3) is a linear or branched and saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R′ and R″ each independently represents linear alkyl or alkoxy having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms. 
       
     
     
       3. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the γ-oryzanol (A) is a mixture that contains at least one compound represented by the formula (a1) and at least one compound represented by the formula (a2): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  represents branched alkyl or alkenyl having from 9 to 10 carbon atoms, and R 2  represents branched alkyl or alkenyl having from 8 or 9 carbon atoms. 
       
     
     
       4. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hydrolysate of the γ-oryzanol (A) is a mixture that contains at least one vegetable sterol selected from compounds represented by the formulae (a1-1) to (a1-4), and at least one triterpene alcohol selected from compounds represented by the formulae (a2-1) to (a2-4): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
       5. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal composition contains two or more esterified products selected from the group consisting of the esterified product (1), the esterified product (2) and the esterified product (3). 
     
     
       6. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein
 the cholesteric liquid crystal composition contains the esterified product (1), the esterified product (2) and the esterified product (3), 
 the esterified product (1) is an esterified product of the hydrolysate of the γ-oryzanol (A) and the linear or branched and saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms, 
 the esterified product (2) is an esterified product of the hydrogenated product of the hydrolysate of the γ-oryzanol (A) and the carboxylic acid compound represented by the formula (b1), and 
 the esterified product (3) is an esterified product of the hydrogenated product of the γ-oryzanol (A) and the linear or branched and saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms. 
 
     
     
       7. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein
 the cholesteric liquid crystal composition contains the esterified product (1) and the esterified product (3), 
 the esterified product (1) contains an esterified product of the hydrolysate of the γ-oryzanol (A) and the carboxylic acid compound represented by the formula (b1), and an esterified product of the hydrolysate of the γ-oryzanol (A) and the linear or branched and saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms, and 
 the esterified product (3) contains an esterified product of the hydrogenated product of the γ-oryzanol (A) and the linear or branched and saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms. 
 
     
     
       8. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein
 the cholesteric liquid crystal composition contains the esterified product (2) and the esterified product (3), 
 the esterified product (2) contains an esterified product of the hydrogenated product of the hydrolysate of the γ-oryzanol (A) and the carboxylic acid compound represented by the formula (b1), and an esterified product of the hydrogenated product of the hydrolysate of the γ-oryzanol (A) and the linear or branched and saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms, and 
 the esterified product (3) contains an esterified product of the hydrogenated product of the γ-oryzanol (A) and the linear or branched and saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms. 
 
     
     
       9. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the carboxylic acid compound (B1), the carboxylic acid compound (B2) and the carboxylic acid compound (B3) is the linear or branched and saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having 18 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       10. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the carboxylic acid compound (B1) is the linear or branched and saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having 18 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       11. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the carboxylic acid compound (B2) is the linear or branched and saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having 18 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       12. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the carboxylic acid compound (B3) is the linear or branched and saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having 18 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       13. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal composition further contains (4) an esterified product of the γ-oryzanol (A) and (B4) a carboxylic acid compound, wherein the carboxylic acid compound (B4) is a linear or branched and saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       14. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal composition further contains (5) an esterified product of a vegetable sterol extracted from soybean and (B5) a carboxylic acid compound. 
     
     
       15. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the carboxylic acid compound (B5) is a linear or branched and saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms, a carboxylic acid compound represented by the following formula (b3) or a carboxylic acid compound represented by the following formula (b4): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R′ and R″ each independently represents linear alkyl or alkoxy having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms. 
       
     
     
       16. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the γ-oryzanol (A) contains the ferulate ester of a triterpene alcohol in an amount of 60% by weight or more. 
     
     
       17. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal composition further contains at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid ester, a hydrocarbon, a higher alcohol, a lower alcohol, a polyhydric alcohol, a silicone oil, a cyclic ether, a ketone, an amide, an amino acid and an organic amine. 
     
     
       18. A microcapsule comprising a core material containing the cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 1 , covered with a shell material. 
     
     
       19. The cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal composition is applicable in one selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal pigment, a paint, a spray ink, a printing ink, cosmetics, an anticounterfeit printed matter and an ornament. 
     
     
       20. Cosmetics comprising the cholesteric liquid crystal composition as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       21. The cosmetics as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the cosmetics further contain at least one selected from the group consisting of a body pigment, a colorant, an antioxidant, an antioxidation assistant, an ultraviolet ray absorbent, a sequestering agent, a surfactant, a storage stabilizer, an antiseptic, a diluent, a plasticizer, a moisturizing agent, a viscosity controlling agent, a feel improver, a thickener, a film-forming agent, an ester oil, a liquid oil or fat, a solid oil or fat, wax, a water-soluble polymer, a cyclic ether, a ketone, an amide, an amino acid, an organic amine, a polyhydric alcohol, a polysaccharide, a polymer emulsion, a pH controlling agent, a vitamin, a skin nutrient, a perfume, an extract and water.